| It is partly what "opens the purse strings" but also what makes a given diagnostic and treatment protocol available. 30 years ago you could be what is called autistic now, and you would have probably been diagnosed Asperger's, or "mentally retarded" actual words of the diagnosis. For the Asperger's you would probably have been sent on your way, with an 80% chance of divorce, a 20-80% depending on who you trust higher chance of suicide than your neurotypical peers, and zero help. If you were "retarded" you would go on disability and into a group home if your parents couldn't take care of you until you died. With an autism diagnosis you get treatment, and if you get enough early enough, a 50% chance of being indistinguishable from your neurotypical peers by adulthood. So, you are right. It is much more about money than scientific taxonomy. But we made the rules. If doctors are following them to get best outcomes for their patients, aren't they doing their jobs? So it comes down to our medical system being a mess. |